Improvement in mail-bags



J. (1.TH0MPS0N. Mail-Bag.

1 No. 211,276. Patented Jan. 7, 1879.

N.FErERS. PHOTO-UTHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON. L1G.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE Gr. THOMPSON, OF CLARION, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAIL-BAGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 211,276, dated January 7, 1879; application filed November 11, 1878.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JESSE G. THOMPSON, of Clarion, in the county of Clarion and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Mail-Bag; and I hereby declare the following to he a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the bag fastened. Fig. 2 is an end view of the bag when opened and showing cover. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the bag when covered and fastened.

The object of my invention is to provide a commodious and convenient mail-pouch; and it consists in constructing the mouth of the pouch so that it stays open when the lid is lifted, and also in a peculiarly-constructed cover and fastening, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

1n the said drawings, Ais a pouch, made of pliable leather or other suitable material, havin g its mouth attached to the interior circumference of a heavy leather annulus, B, thus forming a broad flange projecting around the mouth of the pouch. The flange B is pierced at intervals with oblong-shaped holes a, radiating from the center, to receive certain fastenin g-hooks arranged in corresponding positions around the edge of a hinged cover, 0. These fastenin gs b are made, as shown, of longshanked hooks Z, with the end of the shank riveted in the cover, and the bight of the hook of such a width a stop ass through openings a, and leave the ends of the hooks below flange B about the distance of half the width of the strap intended for fastening the bag.

Protrudin g from the cover 0 is a heavy leather flange, D, of a proper size to pass within the mouth of the bag and brace the flexible portion of the pouch or bag when the strap is drawn around it to fasten the cover down.

Adjacent to the hinge, and on the side of the bag, fastened by rivets or other means, are two staples, e and i-one, e, to retain permanently the end of the fastening-strap S, and the other,

t", to fasten the loose end, by means of a padlock or other fastening, after the strap is properly placed.

When the mail has been put into the pouch the lid. is closed down, so that all the hooks b V i will pass through the openings a and let the cover lie snug against flange B. Then the edge of the fastening-strap S is passed over hooks b consecutively until the end is passed over staple i to receive the lock. The bight of the hook next the locking-staple is out off, as shown at w, and the strap is passed between this stub and bag A, so that it cannot be pulled out from bag A, and the other hooks keep the i upper edge against the cover, thereby securely fastening the bag.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The pouch A, surrounded with the stiff flange B, provided with openings to, in combination with cover 0, having flange D and fasteninghooks b, and strap S, as and for the purpose described.

JESSE G. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. REED, FRANK It. HINDlVIAN. 

